Platform scale



M. H. HANSEN I PLATFORM SCALE Original Fi ?atented Feb. 28, 1928.

MARKETS 33E. HANSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO HANSON BROTHERSSCALE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLATFORM SCALE.

Original application filed. July 14, 1924, Serial No. 725,791. Dividedand this application filed March 26,

1926. Serial No. 97,526.

This application is a division of the applicantscopending applicationSerial No. 725,791, filed July 14, 1924:, for Letters Patent upon aplatform scale.

This invention relates generally to sheet metal boxes and has particularreference to a box adapted to house a scale mechanism and to support ascale platform.

Tn the sheet metal art various conformations of sheet metal may be madeto provide boxes, but when the box is to be subject to considerableexternal weight and considerable internal stress a construction isdesired which will give. the necessary strength and yet permit the useof relatively thin sheet metal, and which will also permit of aneconomical size and shape for the )ieces of metal which constitute thebox. Furthermore, a minimum number of pieces is desired.

The primary object of this invention is to meet the above conditions bythe provision of a new and economical construction of sheet metal pieceswhich form the box. In the present instance the box is adapted for thehousing of a platform scale of the character described in theabove-mentioned copcnding application.

Tn the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates :1 limgitudinal cross sectional viewof the box showing the construction of the scale mechanism.

Fig. 2 illustrates the box construction in a perspective view.

Figs. 3 and l are closure plates which complete the box.

In the drawings the scale mechanism is shown housed in a box casinghaving at one end a weighing mechanism and at the other end aregistering mechanism. The box is of specially simple and rigidconstruction being formed from stampingsbf sheet metal bent to thedesired form and spot welded. The construction of the box is indicatedin Fig. 2 showing two similar side sections which when separated dividethe box longitudinally into two similar portions. Each side sectioncomprises one long side face 10 and half of the two end faces 11 and 12.Each face has rectangular flanges Q 13 and 14, all around at top andbottom directed inwardly of the box. The section dcscribedis readilymade from a single strip of material by bending the same into the formof a channel, cutting opposing Vs in the channel sides, and bendingagain in the lines of the Vs to form the corners. The flanges thusformed impart to each side of the box a channel shaped cross sectionnfi'ording a rigidity and strength to the box as well asprovidingconvenicnt means for securing top and bottom members to thebox. Placing of the two side sections end to end gives a box ofrectangular contour with a scam in the end faces. Because the channelsides of the sections are herein shown equal in length the seam appearsin the middle of the end faces of the box. TVide L-plates 15 and 16constituting half of the bottom surface and half of the top surfacerespectively, are provided diagonally of the box to hold the sidesections together. The L-plates 15 and 16 have parts 15 and 16 which areinside the ends of the box to provide rigidity and to cover the scambetween the sections. The 7 end faces 11 and 12 may be spot welded tothe [L-plntcs. The half bottom plate 15 is solid leaving an opening atone end of the box. The half top plate 16 is slotted at 17 and 18 forthe registering mechanism leaving the top open at the opposite end forinscrtion of the weighing mechanism. Suitable removable plates 19 and20serve to close the respective top and bottom openings. The top plate19 has a suitable lip 21 thereon through which securing means as screws22 secure it to the box. The bottom plate 20 is suitably secured in thebottom opening by the bending of properly located lips as lips 23 and 2The scale mechanism located at the front of the box comprises a frame 25vertically suspended in the box. The frame has parts projecting from thebox through holes- 26 and 27 formed in the closure plate 19. A platform28 is carried on the frame 25 above the closure plate 19. A.parallelogram arrangement of other members maintains the A parallel tothe frame 29 and pivoted; to the lli box structure at 35. These partscomplete the parallelogram. A suitable slot 3% is formed in the plate 19to permit the insertion and operation of the parallelogram link 34:.

The suspension of the main weighing frame 25 is made by one or moresprings at each side of the frame and herein preferably located at theends. Each end of the frame 25 carries transversely thereto a bar 36located at the lower end. Three springs 37 are here used to suspend theframe at each side, the springs extending from the bars 36 to the top ofthe box. As a means for strengthening the box for support of thesprings, a special supporting plate 38 is conall tom plate as structedinto the boxextending from the botshown in Fig. l at 39 to the topflange 13 at 40, the plate being, suitably secured as'by rivets or spotwelding. The plate 38 at the top is bent over inwardly of the box andthen downwardly to provide a vertical rib n for attachment of thesprings 3?. Suitable side brackets 42 are bent laterally from theplateto help support the rib l1. I

Tn the rear portion of the box a suitable registering mechanism isindicated generally by the numeral 43, which mechanism is actuated by alink a l operatively associated with the weighing frame through .a bellcrank mechanism generally indicated at 46. The

details of construction of these portions of the scale have no bearingupon the present invention and therefore are herein omitted from thedescription.

It is thus clear that I have provided a box construction which isbothsimple in the arrangement of the parts and which is very economical ofmaterial because of the regular rectangular conformation of the pieces 0metal which enter into the box construction. It is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the form herein disclosed, but iscapable of being-embodied in other forms and is susceptible to variousmodifications as rectangular sides of a flanges on said members to liealong the top box, plates adapted to reincense tions thereof adapted toform partial top and bottom closures of the box.

2. A box structure having a weighing scale comprising, in combination,two portions adapted to abut each other to define the box contour, topand bottom plates for the box,

means for securing the side portions together, means for securing theplates into the box, and box reinforcing means therein for supportingthe weighing mechanism of the scale.

3. A. sheet in combination, complementary box sides adapted to abut eachother to define the box contour, said sides having a channel crosssection, the channel bottoms being the box sides and the channel sidesbeing top and bottom flanges for the box, and plates secured to saidflanges to form the box top and the box bottom, said plates havingreinforcing portions adapted to overlie the abutting parts of said boxsides.

l. A box structure comprising, in combination,v two channel shapedmembers adapted to be placed end to end to form the box, inwardlydirected and bottom of the inforce the faces of the box where saidmembers meet to form a seam, said members being right angular and bottomsurfaces for the box.

5. In a scale box structure, a sheetinetal scale suspending membersecured to one side of the box on the interior thereof, said memberresting on the bottom of the box, said member being bent over at the topto form a vertically depending rib spaced inwardly from the box side towhich it is secured, and

f having vertical brackets bent'inwardly from said box side to supportthe rib.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

- MARIUS H. HANSEN.

metal box structure comprising,

flanges on the in form providing top

